Flow directing baffle for reducing the turbulence of flow of fluid entering a space from a circuit



April 28, 1953 c. SMITH, JR 2,636,512

ENCE 0M A CIRCUI FLOW DIRECTING BAFFLE FOR REDUCING THE TURBUL OF FLOW OF FLUID ENTERING A SPACE FR Filed Aug. 14, 1950 FIG- INVENTOR.

A. c. SMITH, JR.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, `1953 FLOW DIRECTING BAFFLE FOR REDUCING OF FLOW OF FLUID ENTERING A SPACE FROM A CIRCUIT Albert C. Smith, Jr., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., assigner,

by mesne assignments, to A. Gusmer Inc., Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 14, 1950, Serial No. 179,165

7 Claims. (Cl. 137-590) THE TURBULENCE This invention relates to the transfer of fluids and more particularly to the action of the uid during such transfer and provides for dissipation of the kinetic energy or energy of flow such that turbulence is substantially eliminated. The invention has particular application in the brewing industry, although it is obvious that `it is not so limited in use.

In the processing of fermented malt beverages such as beer, ale and the like, the liquid must be transferred from one tank to another frequently. IncludedY in the steps which take place after fermentation a-re those of aging, carbonating and filtering. After fermentation of a malt beverage, it is highly desirable to prevent it from absorbing any air, as air is detrimental to the stability of the complex protein constituents which give beer its clear, pleasant tasting quality. However, in transferring beer .after fermentation into `a tank, usually Ia substantial amount of turbulence takes place as the beer enters the tank and under ordinary circumstances a substantial amount of air would be absorbed by the beer.

In the brewing industry Vats or tanks of great size are used and these are usually filled and emptied through an opening at the bottom. During the rst approximate 25% of the filling of such a tank, the beer entering at thebottom under pressure shoots upwardly into the tank and is, therefore, quite turbulent. Furthermore, the fact that beer is a fermented beverage from which most air has been expelled by fermentation, increases its susceptibility of ccntact with the atmospherein which the beer is placed. In entering the tank, the -breaking upv of the beer into fine spray particles increases tremendously'the surface of the beer in contact with the atmosphere and as a result increases the absorption of the atmosphere with which the beer is in contact.

In practice, the brewing industry frequently employs an atmosphere of carbon dioxide in the tanks which are to be lled in order that the incoming beer -contact carbon dioxide instead of air. This carbon dioxide is usually a byproduct of the fermenation process in the brewery. However, the transfer to the tank of the carbon dioxide 4and the transfer from the tank after its use is a complex and expensive -process requiring a great quantity of carbon dioxide and equipment.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention vto provide `a uid iiow regulator and bane .for controlling the .ow `characterstics cf the fluid, and particularly beer, into a relatively large space such that the fluid under pressure is received in the space or tank with substantially no turbulence in order that the area of contact between the beer and the surrounding atmosphere is held to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a baie which is easily and simply constructed, sturdy, capable of easy installation and removal and which provides for the smooth flow of fluid from a conduit into a larger space.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a uid flow regulator constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the flow of fluid thereinto from a conduit, and from the regulator into a tank;

` Fig. 2, a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a section of a modified bafe element; and

Fig. 4, a section through a further modified baii'le element.

, Referring to the drawings, a section through a portion of the bottom of a tank l0 in which beer or other fluid is to be lreceived has a conduit Il of conventional construction to convey the incoming uid to the tank. Connected to the conduit Il is a tank fitting l2 having a bore i3 in communication with the bore of the conduit Il and a flange i4 at its other end. The neck l5 of the fitting is threaded to receive a fastener i6 and gaskets l1 are provided in the form of collars about the neck of the iitting between which the edges defining the aperture I8 in the tank bottom are received and held by the nut It. Connected to the fitting are upstanding support members I9 which are preferably received in threaded openings in the flange Ill. These support members each consist of a relatively long straight portion 20 which, when positioned by connection to the flange, extend substantially parallel to the axis of the fitting. Disposed at substantially right angles to the mainp'ortion 20 is a relatively short leg 2l and disposed at substantially right angles to it is a shorter leg 22 which is threaded to receive a fastener 22. In other words, the support I9 consists essentially of a Z-shaped 4member having a relatively long leg 20 anda much `shorter leg 22, the extreme ends of the member being threaded to receive suitablev fasl'.eners.'`l ySupported above and in" substantial;axialfalignment with the fitting is a cylinder 23 which has an open end 24, whose diameter is approximately twice that of the bore I3 of the fitting although this is not a critical relationship. The cylinder is preferably of glass though other materials may be used. The other end ofy the cylinder is closed by a preferably dome-'shaped portion 25 and has a relatively small aperture 2d therein to permit the escape of trapped air or other gas. At the other end, the cylinder' is provided with a lip 2T to aid in -its support.` Positioned around the cylinder`- and closely adjacent to the lip is a supporting `member 2B of substantially circular configuration and having projecting ears 29 of U-shaped configuration for the reception of the short leg members 2'2 of the supports I 9. In use the lip 21T is drawn nnly against a leg 2i of the support andlis rigidly and securely held by the fastener 22"' betweenleg 2i and the ear and circular portion of the ring meinb'erll.-

In operation the cylinder 2'3 receives the flow of fluid from the conduit and mung, which is axially aligned with the ylinder, the initial turbulence and spray connedwithin the walls and dome of the cylir'ider. the flow continues, airnis permitted to escape through the aperture 2d at the Vtp of Athe deine and affte' a few moments the entire cyliridei" becomes filled with a body of s'lnootljily' flowing liduid which escapes between rthe open end of the cylinder and the spaced tting. flhus, at the very beginning of the flow the initial turbulence takes place within the cylinder where contact with the atmosphere is restricted, and within al brief time the flow becomes substantially smooth, along the lines indicated in Fig. l of the draw-Y ing.

Not only iS the direction Of HCW changed from upwardly from the center of the bottom portion of the tank to substantially radially of the tank but in being changed the energy f ovif f the fluid is substantially dissipated such that the velocity of the liquid stream is reduced toabout of that of the incoming fluid within the conduit. The reasons for the reduction inthe now energy are apparent from a considerati-on of what takes place as the fluid enters the tank. rPhe pressure under which the iluid flows causes it vto rise to a height which would be substring tia-ily as high or higher than the top f the dome portion of the cylinder. However, when the Huid reaches the dome, its direction is changed by its being brought into contact with the dome and from the top of thedorne the flow is down and counter to the center core of incoming 'uid. Contact between the center core and the outward downwardly owing portion of the fluid causes energy to be dissipated, aswell as the working of the incoming fluid against the weight of thecolumn of the fluid contained within the cylinder, the column being conned. The 4further direction change as the fluid is discharged against fluid already in the tank dissipates further energy,

It is apparent that the iluid now 'regulator may be used in other positions than the vertical although this is the preferred position.

The modification of the invention shown in Fig. 3 is similar to thewform shown in Fig. 1 'except that the walls 23 of the member are substantially truste-conical in .conguration in order to provide fortan increase in conduit area as the fluid flowswromvthe top of the donlee shaped portion downwardly;

In the still further modification of Fig. 4 the dome-shaped portion 25 is provided with a flow directing portion 3l which directs the flow of the incoming stream evenly on all sides of the central portion or axis of the cylinder.

the invention includes? a baille comprising a cylindrical member having va substantially dome-shaped end which is supported and spaced from the intake fitting of a conduit through which fluid is received into a relatively large receptacle in order to reduce the turbulence of the incoming fluid vand its contact with the surrounding atmosphere. Itis apparent that the embodiment of the invention shown is merely one illustration of the invention and that the invention is not restricted to the details of the construction shown, but contemplates reasonable variations therefrom.

t lwill be -obvious to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made inthe invntion ii'tl'lci'lt4 departing from the spirit and scope thereof and threfre the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I.- A flow directing baille for reducing the turbulence of flow of fluid entering a space from a conduit, comprising a substantially cylindrical member having oner end open and the other closed by substantially' dome-like structure having a bleeder opening,A an inlet fitting, the membei' having a flange near' the open end, a collar encircling the body adjacent theange and having engaging means, inwardly offset leg members engaged at one end with said engaging means and havingthei'r central portions engaged with the member, the other end of said leg members being connected to said inlet fitting holding it spaced relation from the open end of the mem-v ber and substantially in axial alignment therewith.

2. In a now directing baffle reducing the turbulence of the ilow of fluid entering a space from a conduit, the combination of an elongated tubular member having one end open and its other end closed by a substantially dome-like structure provided with means for bleeding its upper portion, an inlet conduit, means for supporting said n ow directing baille from said inlet conduit includingspaced leg members having adjacent one end thereof offset portions, engaged with the open end portion of 'said baille and means for retaining said baille in contact with said oifset portions, the other ends of said leg members constructed for connection to said inlet conduit for holding it in spaced relation from the open end of said tubularmember and substantially in vaxial alignment therewith.

3. The structure of claim 2, the elongated tu bular member being frust-conic'al and having its axis substantially coincident with the body chenille e. The structure of claim 2, the elongated tubular member having internal ilow directing means for reversing flew therewithin. 5 The structure of claim 2, the elongated tubular 'member beingsubstantially cylindrical and havingitsjaxis substantially coincident with the body opening.

6. The structure of claim v2, the open end of said tubular member h aving a diameter longer than the diameter of the adjacent open end of said inlet conduit.

turbulence of the iioW of iluid entering a spaceV from a conduit, the combinatie-n oi" a substantially cylindrical member having one end open and the other closed by substantially dome-like structure having a bleeder opening, the member having an outwardly extending flange at the open end, a collar encircling the body adjacent the flange and having engaging means, an inlet conduit, and inwardly offset leg members engaged at one end with said engaging means on said member, the other end of said leg members being 4connected to said inlet conduit holding it in spaced relation from the open end of the member and substantially in axial alignment therewith.

ALBERT C. SMITH, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

